and post election blues. that's the subject of this evening's talking points memo many believe the president has the upper hand in the fiscal cliff negotiations. if we gopher 00 cliff republicans think they will get most of the blame. if they give in to tax hikes conservatives believe they will infuriate their base. senator rand paul even believes that since they have such little leverage in the talks of president obama. well, republicans should just get out of the way and let the democrats raise taxes as much as they want. and then let the president take responsibility for party of high taxes. now can i understand senator paul's thinking especially given the fact that the president has already announced ahead of his mano a mano meeting can john boehner that he won't concede an inch on tax cuts. this republican defeatism news broke of jim demint's departure from the senate yesterday. is he a tea party warrior and demint is a hero to part of the g.o.p.'s 2010 midterm route. now he is off to head off a think ta